Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey and Dolphins center Mike Pouncey are identical twin brothers who have a reputation as good players on the field, but not quite as great a reputation off the field.
There was their support for Aaron Hernandez, their college teammate-turned-murderer. There was the time they were accused of beating someone up at their birthday party, although no charges were filed. There was Mike’s involvement in the Dolphins bullying scandal.
But the Pounceys say they’ve learned from past mistakes and are working on improving their public images.
“The world has changed so much that the public eye is everything,” Mike Pouncey told the Ledger. “It’s perception over reality. We know that you’ve got to do the things right on and off the football field, and we learned over the course of our careers to do that now. We’re just glad to be positive role models in our community.”
Added Maurkice Pouncey, “We made some mistakes in the past and we learned from them,. I’m glad they happened because you always got to learn in life. We were young … then, but we’re grown up and trying to be the positive role models — something for these kids back in Lakeland to look up to — and it means a lot to us. Anytime we did get in trouble in the past, it hit us in the heart. We learned the hard way.”
The criticism the Pounceys have received is legitimate: They have, at times, acted like jerks. But they seem sincere in wanting to change not just their images but their actions. Good for them.